Virginia Tech joins Military Spouse Employment Partnership

Jill Weaver

11 Dec 2024

Active duty and veteran spouses employed at the Innovation Campus include (left to right): Marci Hyla, administrative assistant; Candace Hicks, prior employee; Deborah Bradbard, director of the Boeing Center for Veteran Transition and Military Families; Teresa Simmons, human resources assistant; Maura Gardner, human resources division director for the Innovation Campus and D.C. Metro Area; and Lydia Fahey, digital content producer. — Active duty and veteran spouses employed at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus include (from left) Marci Hyla, administrative assistant; Candace Hicks, prior employee; Deborah Bradbard, director of the Boeing Center for Veteran Transition and Military Families; Teresa Simmons, human resources assistant; Maura Gardner, human resources division director for the Innovation Campus and D.C. metro area; and Lydia Fahey, digital content producer. Photo by Lydia Fahey for Virginia Tech.

Virginia Tech has been accepted into the Military Spouse Employment Partnership, part of the broader Department of Defense Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program. The program includes more than 850 military-friendly employers committed to hiring and retaining military spouses.

The partnership connects military spouses with hundreds of employers who have committed to recruit, hire, promote, and retain military spouses. According to the Department of Defense, more than 220,000 spouses have obtained employment with the program's employers.

“Military spouses are a unique and talented group of professionals,” said Bryan Garey, Virginia Tech’s vice president for human resources. “They are skilled, diverse, and motivated with a strong work ethic.”

Hiring and retaining military spouses is mutually beneficial, Garey said. Virginia Tech benefits from the experience of this specialized group and, in exchange, provides career advancement opportunities.

“As a military spouse, I know firsthand how the nature of service can impact a family and career,” said Maura Gardner, human resources division director for the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus and D.C. metro area. “Frequent relocations, limited job opportunities, licensing issues, childcare availability, isolation, and employer hesitancy all weigh on military spouses.”

The quality of life and financial stability of military families tie directly to the readiness and retention of the military force, Gardner said.

Virginia Tech has also adopted the 4+1 Commitment, a pledge to hire military spouses and adopt best practices for employing them. As part of the commitment, Virginia Tech offers military spouses flexible work hours and remote or telework. The 4+1 Commitment is part of Hiring Our Heroes, an organization that connects the military community with civilian companies to create economic opportunity and a strong and diversified workforce.

“My hope is that Virginia Tech’s involvement in these partnerships opens doors for other spouses while bringing incredible talent to Virginia Tech,” said Gardner.

About military spouses

According to the Department of Defense, approximately 92 percent of military spouses are women, with an average age of 33. Military spouses are highly educated, with 34 percent holding a college degree and 15 percent a postgraduate degree.

Military spouses face significant challenges. Spouses must adapt to new locations, job markets, and employer expectations. Many professions require state-specific licenses or certifications. Military spouses face hurdles in transferring their credentials across states, delaying their ability to work in their chosen fields.

Military spouse unemployment remains five to six times the national unemployment rate — about 20 percent — and has not changed significantly in nearly a decade. Contributing factors include frequent relocations, increased family responsibilities when a partner is deployed, and limited employment options near military bases. The financial insecurity it creates poses a threat to military readiness.

Virginia Tech’s commitment to veterans

Virginia Tech has been recognized for recruiting, hiring, and retaining veteran talent, receiving multiple Virginia Values Veterans awards for hiring more veterans than any other state agency in the commonwealth and its innovative recruitment process. Additionally, Virginia Tech participates in veteran hiring fairs alongside the state’s Department of Veterans Services and offers multiple Department of Defense SkillBridge transition programs to help transitioning service members integrate into civilian careers. Visit the university's jobs site for more information.